Going to World Cup in Atlanta? Now you can carry your drink with you

Fans heading into Atlanta for the FIFA 2026 World Cup just got an extra perk thanks to the Atlanta City Council.

Eight matches of the international tournament will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (called Atlanta Stadium by FIFA), including at least two matches with tournament favorite Spain and the semifinal match.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors will be in and around the stadium over the course of a month, and a new change means they will be able to bring their drinks with them.

Temporary open container area approved

In a city council meeting Monday, Atlanta officials approved a temporary open container area that includes Mercedes-Benz and the surrounding entertainment space.

The rule change will be in effect from June 11 to July 19, and is only a temporary suspension of the ordinance.

Open container means fans can purchase an alcoholic beverage from a restaurant or bar and carry it with them into public spaces like sidewalks or parks.

The area runs from Northside Drive east to Peachtree Street, then Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard south to Shirley Franklin Boulevard, including the stadium, Centennial Park and much of downtown's entertainment district, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

It also overlaps with a permanent open container district in South Downtown that was approved earlier this year. This was the first district of its kind in Atlanta.

Which matches are being held in Atlanta?

Atlanta will be host to eight matches over the month-long tournament, including five group stage matches, one Round of 32 match, one Round of 16 match and a semifinal match.

• Monday, June 15 — Spain vs Cabo Verde, Group H - Shop tickets
• Thursday, June 18 — South Africa vs Czechia, Group A - Shop tickets
• Sunday, June 21 — Spain vs Saudi Arabia, Group H - Shop tickets
• Wednesday, June 24 — Morocco vs Haiti - Shop tickets
• Saturday, June 27 — Uzbekistan vs Congo, Group K - Shop tickets
• Wednesday, July 1 — Group L winners vs third place from Group E/H/I/J/K - Shop tickets
• Tuesday, July 7 — Match 86 winners vs Match 88 winners - Shop tickets
• Wednesday, July 15 — tournament semifinal, teams TBD - Shop tickets

Irene Wright covers the FIFA World Cup as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at [email protected].